Defend Karen Reissman

Defend free speech and trade union rights

Manchester mental health workers on strike, photo Christian Bunke

Manchester mental health workers have taken over two weeks' strike action to defend their sacked union rep Karen Reissman. Accused of 'bringing the trust into disrepute' by speaking out against mismanagement, Karen is a victim of union-busting as the NHS is dismantled and privatised.

Hugh Caffrey, Manchester Socialist Party

Trust bosses want to make £3 million-worth of cuts to mental health, which will mean job losses and a worse service. But money is no object when it comes to strike-breaking. Private hospital beds are being paid for by Manchester primary care trust!

Workers' action in January defeated attempts to cut the number of mental health teams and staff and pushed back attempts at privatisation.

Without campaigning unions, the bosses would victimise the entire working class through poverty pay, cutting public services, etc. When workers fight back, the bosses try to victimise union representatives. This is currently true in the NHS, the Royal Mail, local government, and many private-sector industries.

Manchester mental health workers on strike, photo Christian Bunke

Every trade unionist and the wider working class needs to mobilise in support of Manchester's mental health strikers.

For New Labour though it's a different question. Minister for mental health Ivan Lewis refused to even discuss the case. Manchester's Labour council health spokesman described the strike as "cruel… not justifiable… indefensible… a despicable act" (Manchester Evening News 15 November).

Why is Unison, the trade union representing thousands of health workers, still giving money to this rabble? The link to New Labour has bought Unison members nothing, except inaction by union leaders more worried about upsetting the government than about defending their members.

Karen and the strikers have huge support from workers in and beyond the health service. Mobilising this support can put huge pressure on the trust. Socialist Party members and others have argued for a day of action to be announced on the 24 November demonstration.

Calling for supporters at every hospital and even more widely, to mount protests on a date in the near future would get a huge echo. Should the trust still not budge, the ground could be further prepared for wider action and possibly a national demonstration.

While strikers have taken the lead, Unison officials have been extremely slow in publicising the strike, especially the 24 November demonstration. Is this the Labour link at work again? To ensure their colossal support is mobilised, strikers will have to continue taking the lead.

Management are, at the time of writing, still trying to sit out the dispute. A swift victory could be won by continuing solid strike action, and solidarity protests against the trust bosses and their cronies.

Through this can also be built solidarity between all those fighting to save the NHS, and workers fighting to defend their democratic and trade union rights.

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As we go to press it seems that the management have been forced back into negotiations.